DOT to allow rail trails with fences

DARTMOUTH — The Department of Transportation will begin permitting bike paths constructed along railways, according to a letter from DOT Secretary Richard Davey to Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District Executive Director Stephen Smith.

DARTMOUTH — The Department of Transportation will begin permitting bike paths constructed along railways, according to a letter from DOT Secretary Richard Davey to Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District Executive Director Stephen Smith.

The letter was presented by House Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. William Straus at a Thursday night summit of stakeholders interested in building a SouthCoast bikeway.

In the letter meant to "clarify" the state Department of Transportation's policy on bike paths constructed close to active railroads, Davey wrote that the department had previously "considered their implementation on a case-by-case basis."

"This method of analysis has, unfortunately, caused unnecessary difficulties and tended to result in little to no progress for proposed 'rails with trails,'" he wrote. "Going forward, therefore, MassDOT will as a matter of policy permit the construction of shared-use paths along active or planned railroad rights of way provided appropriate fencing separates the two uses."

Straus' reading of the letter aloud was met with applause from the more than 50 attending the summit.

The proposed SouthCoast Bikeway from Swansea to Wareham would include bike paths along active railroads in Westport, Dartmouth and Wareham.

Straus, D-Mattapoisett, was one of many transportation advocates at the summit. Also present was Craig Della Penna, a consultant who helps communities developing rail trails.

"You have to be patient. These things move at a glacial pace," he said.

Della Penna said the bikeway was more apt to gain support and funding if it was re-branded as not just a recreational and health issue but also a transportation issue.